Electrical receptacle and attachment



Feb. 21, 1928.

Filed July 14. 1920 2 SheQts-Sheet 1 Iller. n.

Feb. 21, 1928,

' R. B, BENJAMIN lEH'JEGTRICL RECEPTIM'LE4 ND ATTACHMENT Filed July 14.1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 Z n verz/bor:

Patented Feb. 2l, 1928..

UNITED STATES PATENT caricia.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIClll/lf.ANU'FAGTIJ'RI1\T(3|Y COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION0F ILLINOIS.

nLEornIeAn nnonrfraonn AND ATTACHMENT.

Application filed July' 14, 1920. Serial No. 396,198..

My invention relates to electrical devices and more specifically to awall receptaclev or the like, and an attachable fixture for connectiontherewith.

One of' the objects of my invention is to provide such a constructionwhich will be durable and eiicient in use, compact in conf struction andcheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow andfrom the appended claims. y

In the drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is shown Fig. 1is a face view of a wall receptacle;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the wall receptacle and a fittingsecured thereto;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the connecting end of the fitting shown in Fig.2

Fig. 4 is a Vertical sectional view showing the connection between thefitting and recep` tacle;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. t3 is a face view of the receptacle base and the parts supportedthereby;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the switch mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a face View of the receptacle with the fixture removed and acover substituted; and

Fig. Si is a perspective view of' the cover shown in Fig. 8.

'i'he construction shown in the drawings comprises in a general way ayduplex receptacle 10 mounted in :t metal outlet box 11, and unelectrical fixture or fitting 12 which can be detachably secured withrespect to the receptacle 10. 'The duplex receptacle 10 1s shown ashaving a receptacle portion 13-for cooperation with a connecting deviceof. the push-in type. und a receptacle portion 1.4 of the lldisou type.

'lhe Edison receptacle is of the safety type, that is, both the shelland center contacts 15 and 16 respectively. are normally dead, and arenot electrically connected with the fced circuit until the connecterdevice is screwed in. This is accomplished by providing the centerContact 1G with a quick-break switch mechanism 1T, which is inoved toon" position to connect the center contact 16 with the l'ccdcircuit whenthe connector is screwed in, and making the threaded Chell contact 15tiltable so that it may be brought on the line intol and yout of contactwith respect to the live contact member 18. l Before describing infurther detail th constructionof the Edison receptacle, I willl describethe construction of the fixture 12 and the cooperating receptacleportion 13. In order to electrlcally connect the fixture 12 with'thereceptacle 13, the fixture is provided with a 'pair of push-in contactblades 19, which `can be pushed into engagement with a. pair of springcontact finger devices 20 secured to the receptacle portion 13. In orderto mechanically connect the' fixture 12 with the receptacle portion 13,thev fixture 12 is provided with a pair of hook members 21 (see Fig. 4)which hook into a pair of openings 22 in the supporting plate: 23, whichis secured to the outlet box 11 by means of screws 24. As shown in Fig.4 the shank: of the hooks 21 substantially fill the holes 22 when thefixture is swung down into position,I and as the upwardly-extending hookportion 21 extends behind the supporting plate 23 the fixture 12 cannotybe disconnected from the' receptacle portion 13 by means of a downwardor sidewise force exerted on the fixture.

As shown in Fig. 4, the hooks 21 are provided with shoulder portionsforengagement with the inner and outer. `faces respectively of thesupporting plate 23, to prevent in and out movement of the hooks afterthey are connected. The upper shoulder of the hook engages the innerface of the plate and the lower shoulder of the hook engages f the outerface of the plate.

In order to prevent the fixture from being disconnected by an upwardforce exerted on the fixture, the yoke-shaped latching mem ber 25 isprovided (see Figs. 3 and 4) whichA latching member is slidably mountedon the fixture 12., and has a pair of latching fingers 26 which swinginto a pair. of openings 27 in the supporting plate 423 when the fixture12 is swungdown about the hooks 21 as a pivot. After the latchingfingers `26 have swung into openings 27 the latching member 25 may bepulled u by means of a thumbscrew 28, which pul s the latching fingers26 up to the position shown in Fig. 4,' in which the upper edge of theopening 27 is engaged in a notch in the' latching finger 26.

The hook members 21 may be formed as integral parts of a sheet metalstamping, this stamping comprising also a cup-shaped por-A tion 29 whichis secured to the stem or conduit 30 of the fixture by means of abushing Y 32 to which the contact blades 19 of the fixture and thecorresponding `wiring terminals 33 are secured. rlhe blades 19 may beformed as part of an integral stamping, which integral stamping alsocomprises the binding plate of the binding terminal 33. These stampingsforming the binding plates and contact blades are secured to theinsulating base by means of hollow rivet members 34 embedded in theinsulating base 32 (Fig.

For housing the base of the xture, a suitable ornamental canopy orcup-shaped` housing member 35 is provided, which is slipped on over thestem or conduit and embraces the bushing 31 and the cup-shaped stamping29 and the parts supported thereby.

The head of the screw 28, previously referred to, bears on this canopyand is threaded into the cross-bar of the yokeshaped latehing member 25so that screwing in on the screw 28 will draw the latching member 25upwardly, to cause the latching member 26 to engage the supporting plate23.

To connect the fixture 12 with the wall receptacle, the outer end of thefixture is tilted up, and the hook members 21 are inserted intheholes'22, and the fixture is then swung down about the hooks 21 as apivot to cause the latching members 26 to enter the lower openings`27.The screw 28 is then screwed into the latching member 25 to cause thelatch fingers'26'to be drawn upwardly, so that the supporting plate 23will engage within the notches of these latching fingers.

As the fixture 12 is swungdown, the projecting contact blades 19 willswing into and enter the openings 36 in the receptacle portion 13 andwill engage the spring contact devices 19. This swinging into engagementof the contact blades 19 is 'feasible because the contact blades are notextremely long and because the lower edges of the openings 36 areelongated somewhat to permit the blades to pass in their swingingmovement.

1t will be seen that the fixture `12 may thus -be firmly supported withrespect to the receptacle portion 13, and that the connect-t` ing partswill be completely. enclosed and housed in the ornamental canopy or housing 35.

For guiding the latching member 25 in `its sliding movement, the arm 37is provided with elongated slots 38, which engages lugs 39, formedintegral 'with the cup-shaped stamping member 29.

Referring now more in detail to the construction of the safety Edisonreceptacle, the

switch mechanism shown herein comprises 4a pivoted switch arm 40,oscillatable back and forth, a coil compression `spring 41 acting on theoscillatable arm 40, a, swinging -with respect to a pair of springcontact fingers 45, one of which contact fingers is electricallyconnected with the wiring terminal 46 (Fig. 6) by means of theconducting strip 47, and the other of whichis electrically connectedwith the center contact 16, which acts on the plungerV 48, to actuatethe lswitch mechanism 17. The electrical connection between the springcontact lingers and the center contact 16'is effected by'means of theconducting strip 49, and the screw 50, which is threaded into the` nut51 to hold the center contact in place.

For normally holding the threaded shell contact 15 out of engagementwith the live contact 18, a U'shaped wire spring 52 is pro vided, thearms of which straddle the threaded shell contact and bear ony theflange portion 53 thereof, to hold this fiange portion 53 away from thelive contact 18. lVhen, however, the insertible device is screwed intothe threaded shell contact 15, and engages the center contact 16, thefirst ellect is to pull the upper 4edge of the threaded shell contactoutward, to bring the flange 53 into engagement with the live contact18. This movement. of the threaded shell contact takes place before the`movement of the center contact, because of the relative stiffness 'ofthe springs 43 and' 52. The spring 43 is so stiff that the centercontact will not yield until the threaded shell contact 15 has beenpulled `outzmd brought to Aa stop against the live contact 18. Thereupona further screwing in of the plug will push the center contact 16 inwardand this will act on the plunger 48 to cause the switch mechanism 17 tomove to on position to connect the center contact 16 electrically withthe wiring terminal 46 thus completing the circuit. y

As shown in Fig. 6, the live Contact 18 is always electrically connectedwith the wiring terminal 54. Also asshown in Fig. 6 the spring Contactdevices 20 are electrically connected withy the wiring terminals 46 and'54 respectively.

In. order to provide a finished appearance to the wall receptacle whenthe fixture 12 is removed. a detachable sheet metal cover 55V to holdthe ornamental plate 55 in its proper position :1s-shown in Fig. 8. e

y n Having thus described my invention, what .engaging means on saidreceptacle and plugin device,v 'forsupporting said plug-in device withits conduit in horizontal positlon, said interengaging means comprisinga hook fixed1y` secured to said plug-in device, and latching meanscomprising a yoke-shaped member slidably mounted on said plug-in device,and having a pair of latching fingers on the yoke arms.

2. The combination'with a receptacle ,having its face lying in asubstantially vertical plane, of a plug-in device comprisinga pluginportion and a conductor conduit extending from said plug-in portion, andmeans 'on said receptacle and said plug-in device for supporting saidplug-indevice with its conductor conduit in horizontal position, saidimeans comprising a. cup-shaped housing, a Ihook securedtto saidcup-shaped houslng and guide iingers also secured to said cup-shapedhousing, and latching means comprising a member slidably mountedon saidguide fingers, and having a latch finger for engaging said receptacle,saidplugin device comprisirg an insulatingbase located in said cupshapedhousing and contactV members supported by said insulating base.

43.. The combinationwith a receptacle having a vertical face, and anapertured supporting plate adjacent saidface, of a combinationelectrical connector and fixture supporting device. and a fittingsupported there- Aby, said combination device being provided with meansthrough the 'apertures in said-plate to hookl including hooks insertablebehind-,said plate whereby it can be connected with respect to'saidreceptacle i by means of a downward swinging motion about said hookYconnection and means for preventing `wardlv. I

4. Thefcombination with a receptacle having a vertical face, and anapertured sunporting' plate adjacent said face, of acombination-electrical connector and fixture sup- Y orting device` and afitting supported theresaid fitting from being swung upy, saidcombination device being provided with -means including hooks insertablethrough the apertures in said plate to hook behind said plate whereby itcan be connected with respect to said receptacle by :means ci? adownward swinging motion about sald hook connection and latching meansfor preventing saidfitting from being swung upwardly.

5. The combination with a receptacle havin its :tace substantiallyvertical, and provided with a supporting plate having a flat aperturedportion, of means` for electrically connecting the fixture with saidreceptacle and n"mechanically connecting and securing said fixture withrespect to said receptacle, said means comprising plug-in contacts forengaging the receptacle contacts, anda plurality of hook members havingShanks ex- 'f' tending through said apertured flat'portion and headportions engaging behind said flat l I portion, one located above saidcontacts, and

cooperating with said flat portion; and surrounding` said contacts,said'plate having apertures through which said hooks may be inserted tohook in behind the plate.K

7. The combination wit-hY a receptacleprovidedwith asupporting platehaving a fiat portion, of means for electrically connecting the fixturewith said receptacle and mechanically connecting and supporting saidfixture with respect to said receptacle, said-means comprising aninsulating base,v plug-in contacts mounted on said hase'for'engagingthe` receptacle contacts, at least three book memberscooperating with said flat portion and surrounding said plug-incontacts, and provisions for relative sliding movement between a numberof-said hooksand said insulating base. said plate* havingaperturesthrough which said hooks may be inserted to hook in behind theplate.

8. The combination with a receptacle provided With a supporting platehaving a flat portion, of means for electrically connecting the fixturewith said receptacle and mechanically connecting and supporting saidfixture with respect to said receptacle, said means comprising aninsulating base, plug-incontacts mounted on said base 'for engaging thereceptacle cont-acts, atleast three hook members cooperating with saidHat portion and surrounding said plug-in contacts. and provisionsforrelative movement between a number of said hooks and said insulatingbase. said plate having apertures through Iwhich said hooks may beinserted toY hook in behind theplate.

9, The combination with a receptacle havits face substantially vertical,and provided with a supporting plate having a flat apertured portion, ofmeans for electrically conill!) mechanically connecting and securingsaid fixture with respect to said receptacle,V said means comprisingplug-in contacts for engaging the receptacle contacts, and a pluralityof hook members extending through said apertured flat portion andsurroundr ing said contacts, some located above. and

some located below said contacts, said hookmembers having pointsextending inthe same direction and engaging behind said flat `saidsupporting plate, and latching 4means for holdingsaid hook members inhooked engagement with said plate said plate having apertures throughwhich said hooks may be inserted tohook in behind the plate.

11. The combination With a receptacle provided With a supporting platehaving a fiat portion, of means for electrically connecting 'the xturewith said receptacle and mechanically eonnecting and supporting saidfixture with respect to said receptacle, said means comprising plug-incontacts for' engaging said receptacle contacts, a vertical supportingplate, a plurality of hook members having hooked engagement with saidsupporting plate, and latching` means engaging said plate for holdingsaid hook members in hooked engagement with said plate said plate havingapertures through which said hooks may be inserted to hook in behind theplate.

12. The combination with a receptacle provided with a supporting platehavinga flat portion, of means for electrically connecting the fixturewith said receptacle and mechanically connecting and supporting saidfixture with respect to said receptacle, said means lcomprising plug-incontacts for engaging i the receptacle contacts, a plurality of hookmembers cooperating with said ilat portion, a canopy for housing saidmeans, andfmeans accessible from the outside of said canopy for holdingsaid hook members in hooked engagement-with said plate said plate havingapertures through which said hooks may be inserted to hook in behind theplate.v

13. The combination with a fixture and a receptacle, of means forelectrically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle andmechanically connecting and supporting said fixture with respect to saidreceptacle, said means comprising a supporting plate having a fiatportion, a plug-in device aving plug-in contacts for engagement withcontacts o the receptacle, and a bracket on which said fixture ismounted, said bracket y being provided with hook members, and said atportion beiner apertured to afford passages therethrougth to enable thehook mem- .bers to be inserted and hooked behind said plate, and toprovide forthe engagement of said plug-in device with said receptacle.

14. The combination with a fixture and a receptacle, olf-means forelectrically connecting said-fixture With respect to said receptacle,and mechanically connecting and support-ing said fixture with respect tosaid receptacle, said means comprising a supporting plate having alatportion, having openings therein, said plug-in device having plug- -incontacts for engagement with contacts of the receptacle, and a pluralityof hook members for extending through the openin s in said supportingplate, each of said y ook members being provided with a pair ofshoulders, for engaging the inner and outer faces of said platerespectively, to prevent in and out movement of said hook with respectto said plate.

15. An outlet box, a fiat plate in front ofA said outlet box, areceptacle carried by said plate, said receptacle being provided Withspaced entrance openings to receive the contact blades ofa separableattachment plug cap, said plate having an opening into which saidreceptacle projects substantially iiush With said plate, and having aplurality of holes surrounding said openinor and distinct therefrom,means for electrically connecting a ixture with said receptacle, andmechanically connecting` and-supportin it with respect thereto,comprising a p 11g-in device having contact blades for engagement withtherefrom, means for electrically connecting a fixture with saidreceptacle, and mechanically connecting and supporting it with respectthereto, comprising a plug-in device having contact blades forengagement with 'said receptacle contacts, 4and a bracket hav `ing a'plurality of hook members'positloned `to enter said holes to connectsaid brackbt with said plate, and locking means for holding said hookmembers in said holes.

17. The combination oia supporting plate 'adapted'to be secured over anoutlet box, a

receptacle secured to one side of said plate,

said plate having an opening and said receptacle having a portionextending through aecomo said opening, and provided with recesses,electncal contacts 1n said recesses, and a Y combined xture supportingand electrical connecting device, comprising a base of insulatmgmaterial, contacts carried thereby arranged to enter said recesses andengage v"adapted to be secured over an outlet box,

saidplate having an opening, a receptacle carried thereby, and having aportion accesfsible through said opening, and substantially flush withsaid plate, said plate having la plurality of holes spaced away fromsaid opening, saidl receptacle having recesses,

' electrical contacts in said recesses, and a fixture securing andelectrical connecting device, comprising a member having hooks forentering vsaid holesand a base having contacts for'engaging thereceptacle contacts, said base and hook-carrying member having relativemovement to permit the hooks to be inserted into said holes and saidmember to be moved parallel with the face of said rev ceptacle tot causesaid hooks to engage be hinds'aid plate.

y19. A combined fixture support and electrical connector, comprising aplate having side flange portions extending at right angles Withsaidplate, and having a pair of hooks formed thereon for insertion into`holes in` avsupporting plate, an insulating base located between saidflange portions and electrical connecting blades carried by saidinsulating base for insertion into a re. ceptacle.

20. A combined fixture support andvelectrical connector for cooperationwith receptacle provided with an apertured vsupporting plate, comprisingan insulating base, electrical contacts carried by said base forinsertion into the receptacle, a. plurality of hooks for insertion intoapertures in said supporting plate, and means for slidably mounting saidhooks with respect to -said base, whereby said hooks can be moved intoengaging position with the plate after the v. plug contacts have beeninserted into the receptacle. 21. In, comprising a. receptacle havingcontacts and a flat face plate having a flat front, said flat frontbeing provided withl a plurality of spaced openings, and a hangingportion comprising a member having hooks for engagement with the edgesof the face plate openings and a plug having contacts, sai-d a lightingfixture, a wall portionl member andA plug being movable relatively toeach other whereby the member may be moved to bring the hooks intoengagement with the edges of the face plate openings after the plugcontacts have been engaged with the receptacle contacts.

22. In combination, a plug receptacle having contacts, a flat face platein front of the receptacleand havinga central opening affording accessto said receptacle and a plurality of additional openings adjacent saidcentral opening, means for mechanically securing a fixture in positionwith respect to said receptacle comprising a member havin hooks whichengage with the edges of sai f additional openings, means forelectrically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptaclecomprising a plug having contacts for engaging the receptacle contacts,said plug and member beine movable relatively to each other whereby saidhooks may be brought into engaging position with the face plate afterthe plug contacts haveibeen engaged with the receptacle contacts, andmeans for locking the hanging portion of" the fixture to the wallportion.

23.' In a lighting fixture, a wall portion comprising a receptaclehaving contacts and a face plate having a flat front provided withslots, and a member having hooks adapted to enter said face plate` slotsand be moved intol engagement with the edges of said slots, and a plugembraced by said member having contacts adapted to-be pushed intoengagement with the receptacle contacts at the same time the/hooks enterthe face plate slots, said member being movable relaatively to the plugto bring the hooks into eigagement with the edges of 'the face plate sots.

24. In a lighting fxtur,e a: Wall portion comprising a receptacle havingcontacts and a face plate havinga fiat front provided with slots, and aY-member having hooks adapted to enter said face platesIOts and be movedinto engagement with the edges of said slots, a plug' embraced by saidmember having contacts adapted to be pushed into engagement with thereceptacle contacts at the same time the hooks enter the face plateslots, said member being movable relatively to the plug to bring thehooks into engages ment with the edges of the face late slots, and meansfor locking the member to the vface plate.

25. A xture unit comprising a securing member having -side portlons,spaced hoo members formedintegral with and projecting forwardly from themarginal edges of said side portions and a contact plu mounted betweensaid side portions and aving a limited amount of movement relative tothe securin member.

26. e combination, a lug receptacle, a supporting plate having a atapertured portion, and fixture means comprising a securing part having aplurality of retaining projections and a plug loosely mounted withrespect to said part so that the part may be moved relative y to. theplug, said plug .being adapted to make electricalV connection with theplu receptacle and said projections being a apted tol pass through theapertured plate and by movement of the part which carries theprojections relativel'y'to the plug and the face plate, 'bring suchprojections intolocking engagement with the face late.

v 27. The com ination, a plug receptacle, a supporting plate having a'fiat apertured portion, and fixture means comprising aA securing parthaving a plurality of retaining projections and a plug loosely mountedwith respect to said part so that the part may be moved relatively tothe plug, said yplug being adapted to make electrical conn ection Wlththe plug receptacle andsaid projections bein adapted to pass through theapertured p ate and by movement of the part which carries theprojections relatively to the plug and the .face plate bring suchprojections into locking engagement with the face plate and means forlocking the securing part with respect to the face plate.

aps

ceptacle, comprising a member having supl porting projections adapted topass through and engage behind the apertured plate, and

a plug movably mounted with respect tov said memberV and having contactsfor cooperation with the receptacle contacts.

29. The combination of a supporting plate adapted to be secured over anoutlet box and having an opening and a plurality of `holes surroundingsaid opening and distinct therefrom, a receptacle carried by the plateprojecting into said opening substantially flush with saidplate, andmeans for electrically connecting a fixture with said receptacle andmechanically connecting and securing a fixture with respect to saidreceptacle, comprising a plug-in device having plug-in contacts :forengagement with the receptacle contacts, and a bracket having apluralityof hook members positioned to enter said holes.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name..

. REUBEN B. BENJAMIN

